UNSC Holds Closed-Door Talks on Pahalgam Terror Attack, Envoys Urge Restraint

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Monday held closed-door consultations to address escalating tensions between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. The meeting, convened at Pakistan’s request, saw envoys from participating nations call for restraint and a return to dialogue.

The consultations, which lasted around 90 minutes, concluded without any official statement from the council. Greece, currently holding the UNSC presidency for May, presided over the meeting. Notably, the discussions did not take place at the council’s traditional horseshoe table.

Speaking to the media, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said the meeting aimed to enable members to deliberate on the deteriorating security situation and rising hostilities between the two nations.

Khaled Mohamed Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific at the UN, noted after the meeting that envoys had called for “dialogue and the peaceful resolution of the conflict.” He described the situation as volatile.

Greece’s Permanent Representative and UNSC President for May, Evangelos Sekeris, termed the meeting “productive and helpful,” while a Russian diplomat expressed hope for de-escalation between the neighboring countries.

UN Chief Condemns Pahalgam Terror Attack

Ahead of the consultations, UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people, most of them tourists. In a statement, Guterres acknowledged the “raw emotions” following the incident and reiterated that “targeting civilians is unacceptable,” calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice through credible and lawful means.

He urged both nations to exercise maximum restraint and emphasized that “a military solution is no solution.”

India, Pakistan Exchange Sharp Responses

Following the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed that those responsible would be hunted down and punished. India has since initiated several punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, halting visa services, and closing its airspace to Pakistani aircraft.

Meanwhile, several Pakistani ministers have alleged that an Indian military strike is imminent and have demanded an independent international investigation into the Pahalgam attack.